Posts tagged “Film”

Its been awhile since I have had time to update my blog due to the amount of detail I like to input within each post. So with that said if you would like to receive updates more frequently regarding my acting career please like my Facebook FanPage @: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Actor-Dominique-Spencer/104852579588294 . But without further ado lets rollout these updates regarding [Reminisce]!

The Indiegogo Page for Robbie Soto’s feature length drama film [Reminisce] is now up and running! You can check out the page at –> http://www.indiegogo.com/REMINISCE-The-Film <– . Here you can donate to the film’s production and receive some cool perks by doing so!! Also in the gallery section is a clip from the film –> CHECK IT OUT <–

Movie “Reminisce” filmed in Greencastle, Hagerstown

By Colleen Seidel/The Record Herald

Shannon Lanier of Dark Ronin Productions (third from left) talks to actors Derek Hays and Dominique Spencer during a break from shooting. John Stansfield, who plays the main character in the film, sits in the foreground.

Oct. 27, 2012 11 a.m.Sunnyway Diner in Greencastle was the scene of a defiant breakup on a recent Sunday afternoon.

Beth stormed in on her boyfriend Jake and his buddy harassing some guys in a diner booth. Apparently, she had had enough of his bullying, told him it was over and stormed out.Then the director yelled “Cut! Let’s do it again!” The actors repositioned themselves and Beth, played by Alexis Barone of Hagerstown, broke up with Jake, played by Brad Masters of Fairfax County, Va., roughly a dozen more times. The scene was part of a full day of filming at the local eatery for “Reminisce,” a play written and directed by Robbie Soto, a North Hagerstown High School graduate, which is now being turned into a full-length feature film.Scenes were shot for five weeks around Greencastle and Hagerstown.

Dark Ronin Films, a production company based in Hanover, has picked up the project and is working with Soto on producing the film, to be premiered at the Maryland Theatre next spring.Birth of a filmSoto, 22, wrote the play during a difficult time while his mother was fighting lung cancer. When he finished the play, he showed it to his mom — five days before she passed away.The story of “Reminisce” is the story of “a courtship of the popular girl by the school nerd,” Soto said. It’s told via a grandfather telling his granddaughters a bedtime story of how he met their grandmother. The underlying message is not to take life and loved ones for granted.“Reminisce” was performed in January 2010 at the Maryland Theatre by Soto’s theater group, Performers of H.O.P.E. Following the performance, Soto said, “Everyone kept asking ‘Where else can this go?'” Soto connected with Shannon Lanier of Dark Ronin Films over Facebook one day, and the film version of “Reminisce” was born. “I was actually asking for advice,” Soto said. “I never thought (Lanier) would have the time to do this.”Lanier, who has worked on six other films as owner of Dark Ronin Films, brought everything Soto — whose directing background rests in theater — lacked when it came to filmmaking: Experience, knowledge and equipment. “He has been the backbone of this,” Soto said.

Team project

“Reminisce” features mostly local actors, with a few from as far as New York City and Baltimore, who are giving their time to the project for no paycheck. Soto credits his actors for their commitment to the project — “Gas is not cheap,” he said. Even those who have little or no acting experience have been an asset on set, according to Soto. “There is no weak link,” Soto said. “We have a lot of talent, a lot of passion. That’s how this is gonna get done.” Soto received more than 600 submissions to audition for the film, which was “a good problem to have” but also “a nightmare. “Filtering through the submissions, he said that he was pleased to be able to give new actors, like Greencastle native Derek Hays, a chance to work on a film.

Below is Barry Worthington’s Award Winning Independent Drama Short film [KIN] starring Barry Worthington, Delano Walters, and Heather Lasslett. Along with Tim Davis, Alex Tercero, myself, Mikhali Rakitin, and many more in its enitiety! [KIN] won at the Accolade Film Competition, was a Finalist in the 2012 Nashville, Tennenssee Film Festival, and showcased in the 2012 Lucerne International Film Festival in Lucerne, Switzerland! I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to be cast alongside such a talented cast/crew who made this film possible! Man, my film really screened in Switzerland!! So without further ado allow me to present to you [KIN]. Feel free to comment and leave feedback below!

Hello everyone, last Friday was the long awaited premiere for Jonathan Boushell’s Independent Feature Length Horror/Comedy [Fang] starring Kyle Richmond Watson, Charlie Dreizen, and myself along with Nick Hanson, Colin Rhodes, Allyson Washington, Ryan Moiles, Shannon Vogt, Monique Curtis, Tony Ellis, and more at Towson University’s Van Bokkelen Hall! The premiere was fantastic! The crowd gave the film a huge round of applause, alot of the beats were hit, timing within the cast was on point, and the score laid down by Chris LaMartina was dope! It was night where I let tears fall but fuck it! It was bound to happen and I wouldn’t change a thing! Thanks again to the excellent cast/crew apart of this project and I honestly cant thank you enough, and to Towson University for screening the film! The film is now being entered into the film festival circuit and I couldnt be any happier!! It was seriously one of the proudest moments of my life, but its only the beginning so please #StayTuned and #Enjoy the pics below!

Below is a review from the great folks at Rogue Cinema on Gary Ugarek’s Feature Length Independet Crime/Drama [All In The Game] starring Nelson Irizarry, Chris Clanton, Micaiah Jones, Kelvin Drama and Daniel Ross. Along with Mike McMullin, Vonn Harris, and yours truly! #StayTuned and #Enjoy

Film Reviews: All in the Game (2011) – By Josh SamfordPosted on Saturday, December 03, 2011 @ 05:03:21 Mountain Standard Time by Duane

Although you probably wouldn’t think that Rogue Cinema would receive a fair share of hip hop inspired crime films, I have received my own fair share of titles that thrive within this genre. These are not movies that focus entirely on hip hop as a music form, but instead these are films that act as depictions of the pure bravado that some forms of hip hop promote. Despite being a big fan of hip hop, I tend to veer away from the “gangsta” rap element. However, I still consider myself a fairly massive fan of crime cinema in general. A part of me loves the idea of gangster-movie loyalists doing their part in continuing the legacy of great crime films, but these movies do often fall into many of the same pitfalls. As we have seen in the horror genre within recent years, genre fans can contribute both the best and the very worst when it comes to their respective genres. All in the Game is a gangster title that looks to take its inspiration from several organized-crime movies from the past, but offers a slightly more modern twist. In a multitude of ways, the movie does turn out to be successful, but unfortunately it also suffers from several key issues that tend to drag it down.

All in the Game tells the story of Ontario Damon Banks (Nelson Irizarry), a East Baltimore based criminal kingpin who has intentions of taking over the city. Standing in his way are the local mafia bosses, who control the city with a iron fist. Ontario, however, has devised a plan to start a quiet war with the Italians that will see his crew taking on these old style gangsters without riling up a war in the streets. To do this, he intends to aim directly for the head of his enemies. What follows is a series of kidnappings and brutal murders that may very well see Ontario rise to the top of the Baltimore criminal world. However, not everyone within Ontario’s empire will stick along for the ride.

I have seen many low budget crime films in my time as a reviewer here at Rogue Cinema. It appears that despite “gangsta” rap taking a dive in popularity, the independent film world has taken a liking to this Scarface-inspired world of crass and violent businessmen. Although All in the Game starts off featuring a few amateurish performances, it quickly shows promise and technical wizardry that sets it above many films in this genre. The first clue for the audience that these filmmakers actually intend to do something slightly different, comes in the form of its black and white cinematography. This is something that comes fairly unexpected, due to black and white photography often being relegated to art films or neo-noir titles in this modern age. This immediately creates a atmosphere of creativity that the movie does not deviate from. In combination with this retro fashion, the film also uses a great deal of handheld camerawork in an attempt to create something slightly meta. This combination of new and old aesthetics somehow works well together, and manages to bring a gritty sort of realism to the film.

The problem with a lot of these movies, however, are the lack of true characters. Although we all love strong gangsters leading our crime films, there needs to be multiple dimensions to make any character stand out as realistic. Although Al Pacino is famous for saying that his character Tony Montanna was gloriously two-dimensional, Tony was actually very well written. Considering that Tony Montanna is the blueprint for almost every over-the-top crime movie made in its wake, I believe that he is the perfect example for what works and what does not in a hardened crime-movie. Tony Montanna may have been a tough guy onscreen, but his drug problem made him a wild gun who couldn’t control himself in the slightest bit. He also had a incestuous love affair going on with his sister, which added another strange layer to a well built and multi-faceted character. In direct opposition to this, a character who is built primarily on posturing seems to work best when he is played in a slightly more low key fashion. All in the Game, however, is anything but low key. Verbose speeches are thrown around like characters are delivering Shakespearean monologs. Our lead, the character Ontario, is performed well by Nelson Irizarry. He is a strong and intimidating force when he is onscreen, however, the character only seems to have one face for the audience: “Badass.” Unfortunately, this becomes rather hard to swallow, and audiences may not react well to his lengthy speeches throughout the duration of the film.

All in the Game is low on plot, but high on violence and general tough guy demeanor. This is a hit or miss situation, because it will probably limit the audience for such a title. While some are bound to enjoy the testosterone-fueled machismo that accompanies the film, others will be slightly more realistic when focusing on the actual logistics of the movie. In all actuality, this is a title that is based around several torture sequences where our leading man espouses long pages worth of expositional dialogue. After a while, the long speeches and the brutal torture sessions can grow somewhat stale. Some viewers might appreciate the purely gangster approach that the movie takes, but I personally found myself rather conflicted while watching.

A solid little crime film, All in the Game obviously won’t make it on every viewers “best of” list at the end of the year. I do think that the movie shows that director Gary Ugarek has a tremendous amount of talent, and he should do well in establishing himself. A visually compelling feature, All in the Game certainly manages to differentiate itself from the pack. I know that I personally look forward to seeing how the director stretches out and handles a slightly larger scope in the near future. For more information, check out the film’s official Facebook page